Bargain from Halfords?

[Neil]

Wasn't sure whether to put this in here or teal pages so feel free to move and apologies if so.

Tool chest plus free 95pc tool kit offer. £75 at Halfords.
www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/storage/tool-chests-cabinets/halfords-8-drawer-tool-centre?_$ja=kw:drytinder%7Ctsid:40392&cm_mmc=Affiliates-_-PerformanceHorizon-_-drytinder-_-TopLink

[kieranv]

None of the Phaze tools are really worth having. The tool box is ok but not a patch on any of the professional range boxes with roller bearings etc but thats obviously reflected in the price.

[cobblers]

Yeah, those Phaze tools are the absolute worst Cheap garbage I've ever see. They're absolutely fit for nothing but the bin - Christmas Cracker toy quality.

Halfords have sold these chests and tool kits together for about ten years as a Christmas offer. The tool chests are probably a bit worse than the "US PRO" ones on ebay, but they are cheaper - and you do get "free tools". Seriously though don't expect to use the free tools for anything.

[nomad]

Dec 16, 2016 22:18:06 GMT cobblers said:

Yeah, those Phaze tools are the absolute worst Cheap garbage I've ever see. They're absolutely fit for nothing but the bin - Christmas Cracker toy quality.

^ Very true
I was in the local Halfrauds today (partly looking for a cheapo tyre inflator, partly out of morbid curiosity)
The screwdrivers in their £20 Phaze 95-piece kit (complete in a tote bag!) looked ok for stirring paint, not much else

[s1105117]

Halfords does annoy/confuse me. Tools etc like these really are pretty curse word, seem to have the life expectancy of a fried egg, but their not actually that cheap! It may be an offer etc and less than other comparables, and not always, but the price is usually a fair bit more than the shrapnel you would think you should pay. Fair quality for reasonable outlay is the days order :-) Especially when your new free screwdriver snaps whilst stirring the paint.

[Mercdan68]

Halfrauds. I just use it for emergencies on a Sunday bulbs etc,all there cleaning goods are well overpriced and the service in our local one is very poor

[Vintage75]

I'll agree with the above comments, the basic tools from Halfrauds are Garbage,
The Advanced/professional range I've found to be pretty good.
I managed to pick up a bargain a week or 2 ago when they had a half price offer on their Advanced socket sets
I noticed they had Miss labelled a 200 piece set at £135 should have been £175
When I got to the till and they wanted to charge me £175 I showed them where I picked it up from and the price on the ticket and they honoured the £135 with out any argument.
I'm more than happy with it , not sure I'd have payed £175 for it though,but I am a bit tight.

[bluebirdpremium]

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that Halfords don't really seem interested in cars anymore? every time I go in my local store the area dedicated to actual car repairs (parts, bodywork etc.) seems to get smaller, replaced by more and more bicycle stuff, and now even a camping equipment section. Plus there's always the ever growing selection of 'car accessory' tacky curse word (who actually buys that stuff??)

Hence why I always prefer to use my local parts factor and, like others have already said, save Halfords for Sunday/bank holiday emergencies.

Back on the subject of tools, I believe that you get what you pay for. An ex-neighbour of mine once bought a set of allen keys from Poundland and got quite upset when they broke the first time he tried to use them, said he expected them to be of better quality - for a quid

I myself own some of the Halfords professional stuff and have to say I've always found it to be very good, but would avoid their cheaper ranges.

[thewindscreenman]

Always avoided Halfords until I met my wife who works for them. Had a employee discount card for the last 2 years which is good for 25% off most things. She has just told be the card is good for almost 50% off tools now & that she can get me a trade card on Monday! Why we are only just having the conversation I do not know but glad we are.
She bought me a very nice tool chest for my birthday which was £230 instead of £400 odd.. . Which was nice.

[georgeb]

Never thought I'd say this, but I'd kill for a Halfords!

The large hardware chains do some tool stuff - mainly Stanley (it doesn't have far to come!), but their car sections are hopeless, pretty much limited to polish, floor mats or steering wheel covers and the factors are hopeless for anything other than Toyota and Hyundai (taxis, see?). We do have some car accessory shops but they sell nothing of use unless you actually want something with a bright anodised finish and "TypeR" all over it.

So, yeah, the ability to just walk into somewhere and buy a sidelight bulb (something I have been failing to do for around three months now) would be great.

On their tools, I've bought some Pro socket stuff as individual items which are still with me now, and behaving perfectly. Never tried their cheaper ranges though.

[Deleted]

It's a £75 tool chest so its going to be flimsy and cheaply built, if you want tools and boxes that will last buy the professional range or get into lifelong debt with SnapOn or Mac.
Ive got that set (paid £50 for it) but its in the spare room for my home tools, I wouldn't use it in my workshop.

[jiminwatford]

I'm glad they exist

Last November picking a car up in the dark, rush hour, 200 miles from home the trailer lights went. Luckily there was a Halfords (open to till 8) in the next town

You're not obliged to use them but i'm glad they're there

[Lopez]

Luckily Earl Shilton has a very well stocked "Bumper to Bumper" type place for most bits, but Halfords are always handy and the Professional tools very good. I once had a set of leads develop a terminal fault on a Sunday when I was due to drive 200 miles, and whilst they didn't have the exact leads I needed in stock, I was able to root through some boxes until I found a workable alternative. Got me home!

[rsmithy626]

I don't know why Halfords gets so much stick to be honest they ain't that bloody bad!

[nomad]

^ they have their uses (open long hours, and often have something you can use to get you home. Their professional tools are fine )

Staff training I can forgive, but I often find their attitude is shocking.
I was after an oil filter for my older daily a while ago, and made a note of the model number from the spin-on filter on the car.
The chap on the parts counter refused to order using my part number, insisted I needed the canister-type filter as that was what his computer said
I decided to spend my cash somewhere else!

It's not unusual to see photos on a cycling forum I use, where they have sold a new bike with the forks on backwards or similar - that's just plain dangerous!

[nisfan]

Cheap tools from halfords are more use in the chocolate tools thread! Advanced/professional stuff is decent though.

[Mercdan68]

We bought my lad a carrera bike from halfrauds six months ago their after sales is shocking,nobody instore today to complete a service....but much better service just 10 miles across the river at lakeside....personally I don't think I will buy from them in the future
just my personal choice

[bababoom]

Worth getting a trade card, £2 packet of side light bulbs! with a trade card 50p
Also had £20 off a £85 battery to.

[DrSebWilkes]

How does one acquire such "Trade Card" ?

[jules]

Dec 21, 2016 21:56:46 GMT DrSebWilkes said:

How does one acquire such "Trade Card" ?

With proof you work in the trade ie mechanic trade qualification, business card (garage etc obviously related). Managed to get mine thro my traders insurance.